Leagues Cup betting tips: Suggested bets for Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, Club America and more
Leagues Cup action continues this weekend as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami feature again in an exciting match-up with Liga MX side Club Necaxa.
That’s right, it’s another full round of fixtures involving all 36 teams in a battle to prove… absolutely nothing, writes Sports News Blitz tipster George Dempsey.
If the opening round of the competition wasn’t too kind for MLS clubs, how about Seattle Sounders stuffing seven past poor Atlas FC on Thursday?
LA Galaxy also found the net five times as they beat Club Tijuana, while FC Cincinnati’s Evander was on hand again to help them beat CF Monterrey.
Our tips for the tournament remain unbeaten, and the time has come to exploit this impossible-to-price feast of football.
Columbus Crew vs Club Puebla
Columbus looked like they had Deportivo Toluca FC beat – two goals up, cruising on home soil, and a reminder of happier USMNT times when the good guys would ‘dos a cero’ the bad guy.
But a couple of quickfire goals from Paulinho, whom we named as a menace likely to make Toluca a contender, dragged the Mexicans level and sent the match to penalties.
A draw and a shootout loss means Columbus stagger into this game with just a single point to their name and plenty to prove.
Puebla, on the other hand, have somehow gone from back-to-back defeats in Liga MX to two straight wins.
After beating Santos 1-0, they followed that up with a ruthless 3-0 win over New York City FC.
They now top the group and have a chance to make it three unbeaten for the first time since last year, but Columbus are the better side and the status quo is calling.
With goals expected at both ends, odds approaching 2/1 for a home win and BTTS combo grab our attention.
Suggested bet: Columbus Crew to win and BTTS at 2.87 with Bet365
READ MORE: Leagues Cup outright preview: Tournament winner and suggested bets
Inter Miami vs Club Necaxa
Miami’s 96th-minute winner was one of the few bright moments in a cagey opening round for MLS sides, with only three picking up the full three points.
Javier Mascherano’s side are now unbeaten in three and haven’t lost at Chase Stadium in five.
They’ve also never dropped a point at home in the Leagues Cup, while winning all three of their home matches against Mexican opposition without conceding a single first-half goal, which gives us hope they can score early and dictate the game.
Necaxa, meanwhile, needed late goals of their own to see off Atlanta United.
They’ve never started a Leagues Cup with a win until now, and they’ve never won two in a row either.
And although they’ve kept things tight in previous meetings with MLS sides, this represents a major step up.
Seattle scored seven last night – Miami could score five.
Suggested bet: Inter Miami -1.5 Asian handicap at 2.00 with Bet365
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Minnesota United vs Club América
Club América just slipped up against Real Salt Lake, salvaging a 97th-minute equaliser to then lose the shootout, leaving them with just a point from their opener.
It was their third game without a win and continued a frustrating run of just two victories in 11 outings.
Despite providing a real attacking threat, they are vulnerable at the back.
Minnesota, in contrast, smashed Querétaro FC 4-1. The Loons dominated from the off and restricted the Mexican side to just two shots on target.
They’ve now won four of their last six and scored seven in their previous three, so we have every faith they’ll score at least once on Saturday.
The fact that this game will take place at Shell Energy Stadium is a boost for Club América, who will be well-supported by the healthy Mexican contingent in Houston.
They, too, are capable of scoring at least a couple of goals, and they can ill-afford to sit back and accept another draw, so the game will open up.
Suggested bet: Over 3.5 goals at 2.50 with Bet365
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